Since the medical industry has begun to feel the impact of the nationwide shortage of intravenous contrast media, organizations are being tasked with making serious adjustments to preserve their supplies.
With the shortage, which pertains specifically to all formulations and concentrations of GE Healthcare’s Omnipaque (iohexol), expected to last until mid-June, several organizations have alluded that conservation efforts are of critical importance. For this reason, the American College of Radiology (ACR) released a statement addressing the situation, which they describe as an “emergency,” along with a list of conservation recommendations.
“The ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media, within the ACR Commission on Quality and Safety, is aware of the current global shortage of iodinated contrast media,” the statement reads. “The recommendations are not exhaustive or prescriptive. They are intended as a resource for imaging providers and their institutions to continue to provide high-quality patient care during times of shortage of contrast media."
Below are some of the following risk mitigation strategies shared by the ACR:
Explore and utilize alternative imaging modalities to answer clinical questions. A list of suggestions can be found under the “Explore by scenario” icon in the ACR Appropriateness Criteria Guidelines.
Check with multiple vendors for supply and consider alternative versions of contrast that will suffice in various clinical scenarios. The ACR recommends keeping supplies from multiple vendors when possible.
Contact your institution’s pharmacy if there is a surplus of higher volume single dose vials in stock to see if the contrast can be safely repackaged into smaller dose vials to eliminate waste.
Reduce contrast doses based on weight, when possible.
Reduce doses with lower kVp protocols.
Reserve higher concentrations for angiographic studies.
Consider nonionic contrast alternatives for oral, rectal, genitourinary administration (examples: iothalamate meglumine or diatrizoate).
Though iodinated contrast is currently and will continue to be in short supply for the next several weeks, the ACR cautions that doses should not be reduced to the point of suboptimal image quality.
For the complete list of ACR recommendations, click here. For more information on the appropriate use of iodinated contrast media, refer to the ACR Contrast Manual.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.